My Name Is Larry
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My name is Larry. Officially I’m named Lawrence, after my mother’s father, who died in late August of 1959, slightly over two weeks before I was born. Although I never got a chance to get to know my grandfather, I grew up constantly in touch with my Uncle Larry and my cousin Larry, on my father’s side. Among my father’s relatives there have even been nine Joseph’s, and a bit too much repetition of other names too. Throughout the years, in order to differentiate from among us Larry’s, I was too often referred to as Little Larry, and even Baby Larry. My niece and nephews, knowing that my full name is Lawrence, have often asked if I have ever gotten any mileage out of that variation of my name. I remind them that under official circumstances it frequently comes up, in school, work, and anywhere else that may require me to be a bit formal. Sister Miriam Therese, of the Sisters of Charity, was my fifth grade teacher at St. Gabriel’s in East Elmhurst. It was in her class that I was first reminded constantly that my name was Lawrence. She was quite strict about each student’s always being addressed and referred to by his first name. Around the time of my twelfth birthday we moved from Jackson Heights to Lindenhurst. When kids in my new schools, Copiague Junior High School, and then Our Lady of Perpetual Help, asked me what my name was, I took a chance on introducing myself as Lawrence. The Copiague kids stuck with it for around the next three years. Somehow after that it faded away entirely. In my Catholic school, though, things were a bit different. The first kid I met there was Jerry Antonacci. He asked me my name. I introduced myself as Lawrence. He then asked if he may call me Larry. I said yes and that was the end of it. Unlike certain other names, such as Anthony, David, Michael, and Peter, the name Lawrence simply doesn’t strike people as that interesting as far as always calling somebody by his full name. I see no point in ever bothering to change it. There have been times over the course of my lifetimes when it has struck me as somewhat annoying. In general, though, it’s quite nice.
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That was a very nice story Larry! I saw a grammatical error though.. can you find it? It’s directly below the word Lawrence. : )
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Thanks for pointing that out to me Lorraine. I can’t find it though. Is it because I should have put the word yes into quotation marks.? I’ve never been able to stand people’s constantly putting things into quotes. The excessive use of them gets me plum crazy
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Well, since you are so anal about editing I thought you would have caught it unless it’s just me and I’m wrong? LOL Maybe it’s correct.
I have several Catholic friends who went to Catholic grammar school. so I can relate to your story after hearing theirs!
Your family does have an interesting naming habit though!
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Thanks for paying so much attention. Yes my relatives are quite the distinctive characters when it comes to the names.
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I’m really happy to know you like it
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